Counteracting the Toxic Hidroarsenicism Effects upon Reproductive-Physiological Outcomes in Male Goats: The Selenium and Vitamin-E Mitigation Approach

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This study demonstrates that treatment with selenium and vitamin-E reduced the damage caused by sodium arsenite in sperm quality in goats. The present investigation is a reference to propose the use of these antioxidants to reduce damage caused by arsenic in the animal organisms in places where groundwater contaminated with arsenic is used as drinking water for animals. ABSTRACT: This study was to evaluate whether selenium and vitamin-E counteract the toxic effects of arsenic on reproductive aspects and physiological conditions of male goats. Male goats [Criollo, n = 20, 4–5 yr-old, 72 kg live weight (LW)] were distributed in homogeneous groups (n = 5), and received during 12 weeks: (1) Sodium arsenite 2 mg/kg of LW/day (AG, LW = 69 kg); (2) Sodium selenite 6 mg + vitamin-E 420 I.U. every 14 days during the 12 weeks (SG, LW = 68 kg); (3) Both AG and SG treatments (ASG, LW = 77 kg); and (4) 1 mL of physiological solution every 14 days during the 12 weeks (CG, LW = 72 kg). The animals had access to water from a well with a concentration of 35 μg/L of arsenic. The SG had the highest percentage of sperm viability (80.6%) followed by the CG, ASG (74.7; p > 0.05), and AG (64.3; p ≤ 0.05). The ASG and SG had a lower heart rate as compared to the CG and AG (58.8, 58 vs. 65.4, 63.5; respectively, p ≤ 0.05). The CG and SG showed a lower respiratory rate than the AG and ASG (19.2, 18.7 vs. 22.1, 21.0, respectively; p ≤ 0.05). Selenium and vitamin-E were efficient in reducing the damage caused by sodium arsenite in sperm quality and maintaining heart and respiratory rates and increases in odor in male goats.